Fern plant named `Glowstar`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Fern plant named Glowstar, characterized by its outwardly arching plant habit that is symmetrical in form; compact habit and low vigor; suitability for small pots; black rachis color; numerous pinnae per frond; short, narrow and finely serrated pinnae; and dark green and glossy pinnae.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fernplant, botanically known as Pellaea falcata, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Glowstar.

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in Aalsmeer, Holland, asa naturally occurring mutation in a population of 100 plants of thespecies Pellaea falcata.

Asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivar at Aalsmeer,Holland, has shown that the unique features of this new Fern arestabilized and retained through more than twenty successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

The new Fern has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements andcomparisons describe plants grown in Apopka, Fla., under conditionsgenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Glowstar. These characteristics incombination distinguish Glowstar as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Outwardly arching plant habit that is symmetrical in form.

2. Compact habit and low vigor.

3. Suitable for small pots.

4. Black rachis color.

5. Numerous pinnae per frond.

6. Short, narrow and finely serrated pinnae.

7. Dark green and glossy pinnae.

The new Fern is most similar to its parent cultivar, the species Pellaeafalcata. The new Fern differs from the species Pellaea falcata in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Fern have an outwardly arching plant habit that issymmetrical in form compared to the more upright and nonsymmetricalplant habit of plants of the species Pellaea falcata.

2. Plants of the new Fern are more compact and have a low vigor comparedto plants of the species Pellaea falcata. The growth rate of plants ofthe species Pellaea falcata is twice as fast as the growth rate ofplants of the new Fern.

3. Rachis length is longer on plants of the new Fern compared to plantsof the species Pellaea falcata, however the rachis width is narrower.

4. Rachis color is darker on plants of the new Fern compared to plantsof the species Pellaea falcata.

5. Pinnae are shorter, narrower, and more numerous on plants of the newFern compared to plants of the species Pellaea falcata.

6. Pinnae margin is finely serrated on plants of the new Fern and entireon plants of the species Pellaea falcata.

7. Pinnae are ovate in shape on plants of the new Fern and obovate onplants of the species Pellaea falcata.

8. Pinnae are very glossy on plants of the new Fern whereas pinnae aredull and without gloss on plants of the species Pellaea falcata.

A detailed comparison of the new Fern and the species Pellaea falcataappears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of Glowstar.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for six typical plants.

Botanical classification: Pellaea falcata cultivar Glowstar.

Parentage: Naturally occurring sport or mutation of the species Pellaeafalcata.

Propagation: By tissue culture.

Rooting habit: Rhizomes are creeping, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as frondsdevelop. Maintains compact size over time. Appropriate for small pots,10 to 12.5-cm.

Plant height.--15 cm from soil line to top of plant plane.

Plant width.--21 cm in diameter.

Plant vigor.--Low.

Crop time.--24 weeks to finished 10-cm pot.

Frond description.--Leaf arrangement: One-pinnate. Frond length: 17.5cm. Rachis length: 11 cm. Rachis width: 3.5 cm. Rachis color: Black,darker than 200A.

Pinnae description.--Pinnae shape: Ovate. Pinnae length: 19 mm. Pinnaewidth: 9 mm. Quantity of pinnae: 33 per frond. Margin: Finely serrated.Number of lobes: One at maturity. Pinnae tip: Acute, pointed. Pinnaebase: Truncate. Pinnae aspect: Flat with margins slightly curleddownward. Pinnae curl upwards at tip. Pinnae attachment: Petiolate.Petiole length: 1 mm. Pinnae texture: Glabrous, very glossy. Pinnaecolor: Immature, top side: 147A. Immature, under side: 147B. Mature, topside: 147A. Mature, under side: 147B. Venation pattern: Pinnate.

Spores.--Color, immature: 175A. Color, mature: 144C.

Disease resistance: No resistance to disease has been noted. Slightlysusceptible to Rhizoctonia sp.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART A                                                                       CHARACTERISTIC `Glowstar`  Pallaea falcata                                    ______________________________________                                        PLANT SHAPE    Symmetrical Not symmetrical                                    PLANT HABIT    Outwardly   Upright, not arching                                              arching                                                        PLANT SIZE     Compact     Large, vigorous                                    GROWTH RATE    Low         Rapid                                              CROP TIME,     24 weeks    12 weeks                                           10-cm pot                                                                     SUITABLE       10 to 12.5-cm                                                                             10 to 20-cm pots                                   CONTAINER(S)   pots                                                           FROND SHAPE/   1-pinnate   1-pinnate                                          ARRANGEMENT                                                                   FROND LENGTH   17.5 cm     16.5 cm                                            RACHIS LENGTH  11 cm       7.5 cm                                             RACHIS WIDTH   3.5 cm      5.5 cm                                             RACHIS COLOR   Black, darker                                                                             Brown, 200A                                                       than 200A                                                      QUANTITY OF    33          15                                                 PINNAE                                                                        PINNAE LENGTH  19 mm       27 mm                                              PINNAE WIDTH   9 mm        13.5 mm                                            PINNAE MARGIN  Finely serrated                                                                           Entire, not serrated                               NUMBER OF LOBES                                                                              One at maturity                                                                           None                                                              at base,                                                                      prominent                                                      PINNAE SHAPE   Ovate       Obovate                                            PINNAE TIP     Acute, pointed                                                                            Acute, pointed                                     PINNAE BASE    Truncate    Truncate                                           PINNAE ASPECT  Flat with   Flat with margins                                                 margins slightly                                                                          slightly                                                          curled down-                                                                              curled downwards.                                                 ward. Pinnae                                                                  curl upwards at                                                               tip                                                            PINNAE         Petiolate   Petiolate                                          ATTACHMENT                                                                    PETIOLE LENGTH 1 mm        1.5 mm                                             PINNAE TEXTURE Glabrous, very                                                                            Glabrous, dull                                                    glossy                                                         PINNAE COLOR,  147A        146A                                               IMMATURE, UPPER                                                               SIDE                                                                          PINNAE COLOR,  147B        147B                                               IMMATURE, UNDER                                                               SIDE                                                                          PINNAE COLOR,  147A        147A                                               MATURE, UPPER SIDE                                                            PINNAE COLOR,  147B        147B                                               MATURE, UNDER                                                                 SIDE                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fern plant namedGlowstar, as illustrated and described.